Barometric draft regulator



July 30, 1957 2,801,056

E. A. FIELD BAROMETRIC DRAFT REGULATOR Filed 001. 7, 1954 llluzb IN V EN TOR.

ATTO NEX United States Patent 6 nARoMETRIc DRAFT REGULATOR Edward A. Field, Mendota, 111.; Amy Field and City National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, executors of the estate of said Edward A. Field, deceased Application October 7, 1954, Serial No. 460,942

9 Claims. (Cl. 2256-45) This invention relates to barometric draft regulators adapted for .use in connection with vertical flnes or horizontal fines and in general flues positioned intermediate such positions.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a draft regulator or control which is adapted for use with horizontal flues or vertical flues and fines positioned intermediate such positions which may be readily adjusted for use in such flues and which provides a very accurate draft control. Second, to provide a draft control including a gate provided with a segmental complementary vane section which may be quickly adjusted to adapt the control for use in differently positioned flues and quickly balanced and counterweighted for such uses.

Third, to provide a draft control of the type described having these advantages including a counterweighted gate in which the turning torque on the gate may be adjusted for the draft conditions of the particular installation.

Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages Which is economical in its parts and the assembly there-- .of and may be quickly installed and adjusted.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view illustrating the regulator of my invention as applied to a horizontal flue.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view illustrating the regulator of my invention as applied to a vertical flue.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a regulator embodying my invention taken on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Figs. 2 and 4, the balancing weight being shown in full lines.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the control as applied to a vertical flue, fragments of the flue being illustrated. 1

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the gate in fully opened position.

Fi 7 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. 3 showing the vane portion of the gate in forwardly inclined relation relative to the plane of the gate.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a heating unit, 2 a chimney or stack and 3 a connecting flue disposed in horizontal position. 4 represents a vertical flue associated with the heating unit 1. It will be understood that the terms vertical and horizontal as used herein .are relative terms and not intended to mean absolute horizontal or vertical positions as flues are perhaps rarely .in absolute horizontal position and are commonly variably positioned between vertical and horizontal. However, they may be generally classed as being either vertical or horizontal and therefore I have used those terms for purpose of description.

2,801,056 Patented July 30, 1957 The draft control or regulator of my invention comprises a housing 5 which is generally cylindrical in form and may be conventionally formed of a strip of sheet stock of suitable gauge rolled into the cylindrical form and having joint members for the ends indicated at 6. The flange 7 and the reinforcing beading 8 are formed after the strip forming the housing has been curved to cylindrical form and its ends attached. The flange and beading constituting reinforcing means permitting the use of relatively light gauge stock.

The gate designated generally by the numeral 9 is generally circular being slightly flattened on its side edges at 10 to permit swinging within the housing on the pivot 11 which is disposed above the center of the gate. The bearing surface 12 for the gate is desirably elongated permitting a limiting rolling movement of the pivot as the gate moves from open to closed position and thus minimizing friction and wear on the pivot which is of considerable importance as commonly it is impractical to lubricate the pivot or its bearings.

The gate comprises a main or body member 13 and a complemental segment-like auxiliary vane member 14 which is mounted on the body member carried by the pivot so that the vane member may be positioned in a rearwardly inclined position or a forwardly inclined position relative to the plane of the gate, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7.

The mounting means in the embodiment illustrated consists of an angularly disposed flange portion 15 on the vane member and a similar angled flange 16 on the body member. The flange 16 has lugs 17 struck in a rearwardly direction therefrom and adapted to engage holes 18 in the vane flange when the parts are in assembled relation, see Figs. 3 and 7. The gate has tongue portions 19 struck rearwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the flange 16 to overlap the flange 15 on the vane. This enables the vane being connected in either position without the aid of tools although a tool such as a screw driver is desirable in releasing the vane in the event it is desirable to change its position relative to the 'body portion of the gate.

In Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive the vane is shown in rear- Wardly or inwardly inclined position which is the correct position in a vertical flue. When the control is installed in a horizontal flue the vane should be positioned as shown in Fig. 7. The updraft in a verticalflue is stronger than in a horizontal flue. To compensate, for the slower updraft in a horizontal fine the vane is inclined outwardly, as shown in Fig. 7, to render the same more sensitive to the incoming'air, and for the stronger updraft in a vertical flue the vane is inclined inwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, to render the same less sensitive. v

The gate is provided with an eccentrically mounted balancing weight 26 which is mounted on the stud 21 projecting at the rear side of the gate. This weight is disposed above the pivot axis of the gate and is adjusted to balance the gate with the vane portion thereof in either of its positions. The draft regulating weight 22 is selectively mounted on either of the forwardly conveying arms 23 or 24 which arms have upwardly inclined slots 25 and 26 therein adapted to receive the mounting screw 27 for the weight 22. These slots have difierent angles of inclination. This is important as the weight is mounted on one arm for a horizontal installation and on the other for a vertical installation. It is mounted on the arm 23 with the parts positioned for a vertical flue. When adapted for a horizontal flue the weight 22 is mounted on the arm 24.

The draft for the particular mounting is regulated by the adjustment of the weight on its supporting arm. This feature of adjustment for use of the regulator on vertical and horizontal fines is in general an adaptation V 3' of the structure disclosed in my Patent No. 2,555,687. In that structure the pivot for the gate is below the center of the gate; To aid the installer the V and H are stamped for embossed on the lower part of the gate the letter V being on the right and the letter H on the left, see Fig. 4., The vane is provided with a single arrow as shown in Fig. 4 visible on both sides of vane. These guide part on the gate are arranged in manner described for the reason that the adjustment weight 22 is mounted on the arm 23 when the control is installed in a vertical flue and since it is on the right hand arm, the arrow on the vane is also at the right. To adapt the control to horizontal fiuethe weight 22 is mounted on the left hand arm 24 and the arrow on the vane is also on the-left hand jside,fwhen the vane is properly positioned.

.While I have illustrated my present invention with the selectively adjustable vane in a structure in which the pivot of the gate is above the horizontal center it may desirably be embodied in a structure in which the pivot for the gate is below horizontal center of the gate and in that case the counterbalancing weight arms would be disposed as they are illustrated in my said patent. the accompanying drawing the connection to the fine is indicated at 28.

7 When the control weight 22 is mounted for a vertical flue installation, the center of gravity :of the assembled gate will normally be in the plane extending from the axis rearwardly and sloping downwardly slightly when the gate is in closed position. This plane with respect to the plane of the gate," in the embodiment illustrated, will be about 82 degrees.

For the horizontal flue adjustment, the slot in the adjustment bracket is such that the plane of adjustment will be approximately 74 degrees relative. to the plane of the gate. This is mentioned as it is diflicult to illustrate the exact relation and it should be understood that the degree of slope would vary somewhat with other varying conditions. It will be understood that as the gate swings to open position the projecting area of the gate decreases and that the pressure of the vanefurther decreases this when the vane swings rearwardly.

It will be understood that while the embodiment of my' invention illustrated is primarily designed for domestic and relatively small installations it is also adapted for larger or commercial installations in which the importance of draft control may be even greater than in small or domestic installations.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to describe other adaptations or embodiments as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a draft regulator, anopen ended cylindrical housing, a generally circular draft control gate mounted within said housing, the gate comprising a body member having a pivotal connection to the housing and a segmental complementary vane member at the bottom; of

the body member, the pivotal axis of the body member a to the housing being above the center of the gate, the

vane member having an angularly disposed flange at its upper-edgeprovided with holes, the body member having a vane member attaching flange at its lower'edge disposed at an angle corresponding to the angle of the vane member attaching flange and provided with lugs engaging said holes in said vane member flange and having oflset tongues overlapping said vane member flange on the side thereof opposite from the body member flange whereby the vane member may be selectively attached to the body member in a rearwardly inclined relation or in a forwardly inclined relation relative to the plane of the body member for adapting the regulator to draftaconditions of a horizontal or a vertical flue, a balancing weight for the gate adjustably mounted on the rear side of the gate and its pivot axis, and a draft regulator means comprising forwardly converging bracket arms mounted on the front side of the gate above its pivot axis, each of said arms having a forwardly and upwardly inclined slot therein, the angle of inclination of the slots relative to each other dilfering substantially, and a counterweight selectively mountable on either arm and adjustable along the slot thereof for adapting the regulator to draft conditions of a horizontal or a vertical flue.

2. In a draft regulator, an open ended cylindrical housing, a generally circular draft control gate mounted within said housing, the gate comprising a body member having a pivotal connection to the housing and a segmental complementary vane member at the bottom of the body member, the pivotal axis of the body member to the housing being above the center of the gate, said vane and body member having means connecting the same to each other to selectively position the'vane memher in a rearwardly inclined relation or in a forwardly inclined relation relative to the'plane of the body member for adapting the regulator to draft conditions of a horizontal or a vertical flue the vane being inclined rearwardly for a vertical flue and forwardly for a horizontal flue, a balancing weight for the gate adjustably mounted on the rearside of the gate and above its pivot axis, and a draft regulator means comprising forwardly converging bracket arms mounted on the front side of the gate above its pivot axis, each of said arms having a forwardly and upwardly inclined slot therein, the angle of inclination of the slots relative to each other differing substantially, and a counterweight selectively mountable on either arm and adjustable along the slot thereof for adapting the regulator to draft conditions of a horizontal or a vertical flue.

3. In a draft regulator, an open ended cylindrical housing, a generally circular draft control gate mounted within said housing with its pivot axis above the center of the gate, the gate comprising a body member having the pivotal connection to the housing and a segmental complementary vane member at the bottom of the body member, the vane member having an angularly disposed flange at its upper edge provided with holes, the body member having a vane member attaching flange at its lower edge disposed at an angle corresponding to the angle of the vane member attaching flange and'provided with lugs engaging said holes in said vane member flange and having offset tongues overlapping said vane member flange whereby the vane member may be selectively attached to the body member in a rearwardly inclined relation or in a forwardly inclined relation relative to the plane of the body member for adapting the regulator to draft conditions of a horizontal or vertical flue.

4. In a draft regulator, a housing, a pivoted control gate mounted within the housing with its pivotal axis above the center of the gate the gate comprising a body member having the pivotal connection to the housing and a vane member removably mounted on the body member to be selectively positioned in a rearwardly inclined or in .a forwardly inclined relation relative to the plane of the gate to adapt the same for draft conditions of a horizontal or a vertical flue the vane being inclined rearwardly for a vertical flue and forwardly for a horizontal flue, and manually adjustable counterweight means for the gate mounted thereon above the pivot axis thereof and separately adjustablefor draft control in each of said inclined positions of the vane member. p

5. In a draft regulator, a housing, a pivoted control gate mounted Within the housing with its pivotal axis vertically displaced from the center thereof, the gate comprising a body member having the pivotal connection to the housing and a vane member complementary to and removably mounted on the body member to be selectively positioned in a rearwardly inclined or in a forwardly inclined relation relative to the plane of the gate to adapt the same for draft conditions of a horizontal or a vertical flue the vane being inclined rearwardly for a vertical flue and forwardly for a horizontal flue, and draft control counterweight means for the gate.

6. In a draft regulator, a housing, a pivoted control gate mounted within the housing with its pivotal axis vertically displaced from the center of the gate, the gate comprising a body member having the pivotal connection to the housing and a vane member removably mounted on the body member to be adjusted to a rearwardly inclined or to a forwardly inclined relation relative to the plane of the gate to adapt the same for draft conditions of a horizontal or a vertical flue the vane being inclined rearwardly for a vertical flue and forwardly for a horizontal flue, a gate balancing means mounted on the gate, a pair of control mounting members on said gate having control mounting stations extending through different vertical ranges, and a single control means for the gate alternately adjustable in said stations for draft control in each of said inclined positions of the vane member.

7. In a draft regulator, a passageway, a pivoted control gate mounted relative to the passageway to control the passage of air therethrough and having its pivotal axis vertically displaced from the center thereof, the gate comprising a body member and a vane member removably mounted on the body member to be adjusted to a rearwardly inclined or to a forwardly inclined relation relative to the plane of the gate to adapt the same for draft conditions of a horizontal or a vertical flue, and a control counterweight means on the gate adjustable for draft conditions.

8. In a draft regulator, a passageway, a pivoted control gate mounted relative to the passageway to control the passage of air therethrough and having its pivotal axis vertically displaced from the center of the gate, the gate comprising a body member and a vane removably mounted on the body member to be adjusted to difierent inclined positions relative to the plane of the gate, and a counterweight means operatively associated with the gate, said vane and body member having an edge of one disposed adjacent and along the edge of the other and means disposed adjacent said edges for holding the vane in said adjusted inclined positions relative to the plane of the body member.

9. In a draft regulator, a passageway, a pivoted control gate mounted relative to the passageway to control the passage of air therethrough and having its pivotal axis vertically displaced from the center of the gate, the gate comprising a body member and a vane removably mounted on the body member to be selectively adjusted to a rearwardly inclined or to a forwardly inclined relation relative to the plane of the gate to adapt the same for draft conditions of the flue with which the regulator is associated, said vane and body member having an edge of one disposed adjacent and along the edge of the other and means disposed adjacent said edges for holding the vane in said adjusted inclined positions relative to the plane of the body member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,112,670 Henchert Mar. 29, 1938 2,179,940 Lawson Nov. 14, 1939 2,555,687 Field June 5, 1951 2,652,200 Field Sept. 15, 1953 

